The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-24
AT COUNTRY HOMES.
SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE
FIRST LAW OF HOSPITALITY.

An Invitation to an Englisl,man's House.
What 1t Imp1ies-The Americans Way
of Doing Thinss-Embarrassme OF the
Host-A Rule.
There are thousands Of country-yet in one
way city like-homes in the suburbs of our
large cities today where twenty years. ago
they might have been numbered by tens Nor
is this only the natural effect from the cause
of IN ever increasing population. We are
realizing that we want more pleasant daily
living; that such sweet, simple home life as
that of England is possible to a certain ex-
tent even amidst the rush and push and crush
of American business. We arc tired Of Sec
ing each face which passes us in the crowded
streets more keen, more anxious, more sharp,
more unrcstful than the last. Ard we arc
seeing the possibility of much comfort and
enjoyment without untold riches; VIC are re-
allZnS more and mCrc that immense for
tunes are not the only end of man, and so are
taking time to find out what can be made
pleasant Oh comfortable income, and we
gather our friends about Us to be happy to-
gether. For certain it is that the pleasure Of
entertaining is one Of the greatest in life.
/ 1t is admitted, of course, that for any STAN
dard or degree of living it takes an income
from four to five times as large in the United
States as in England but our country is too
large, too young to have developed all its re-
sources as they have done 20 each little inch
Of space there; and we must wait many years
for this thing to balance itself. Meantime we
are philosophical enough to kiss each joy as
it hies.n
ON BEING INVITED.
The first thing one realizes on being invited
to an EnGl.shnans house is that one is invited
to CONC at a certain time and stay until
certain time There is no indefinite invita-
tom Come and mako us a visit whenever
you can, leaving one with a half certainty
that one would be welcome, and very de
Cidcd uncertainty, should one so whenever
one could, as to whether ones visit would not
be very i'll timed. No; one starts with a def
mite fact, and consequently with something to
lay hold of and be at ease ab0ut-a knoWl-
edge that one is wanted at such q time and
FOR so long.
An EIgiishman, hastily and correctly,
from habit, reviews his engagements, both of
a business and social nature, and replies at
once, thus in his turn giving his host that
certain ease of knowing. II shall be happy
to come to you Oh the day you state, and can
arrange to remaia until the -" He then
states the train he VIII take, OF, perhaps, his
host has suggested tram; or, if it is too far
ahead to state positively, he adds: II viii
inform you by post on telegram day or two
before Of the hour of my arrival" The host
then is ready, lis plans are formed, the guest
is sure OF his welcome, ard the visitor starts of
with 4 pleasant case Ii he cannot so he dc
cliTcs as promptly and definitely. But
when an American receives such an invita-
ton, what is his course! Very apt is he to
think: That's pleasure. I'm too busy to
write today. Anyway, I must have u few
days to think il ovcr,1 and the invitation is
pushed aside for a more convenient season.
Meantime the hosts arc uncomfortable and
wondering why SO and SO does not wlitc'-
''if SO ard So received our lcttcr''-''if we
only knew that SO and SO could not como we
would invite some one else"